“You laughed, but I meant it,” he said. “It’s not a bad job, by the way ... but there’s no doubt in my mind that with help, [Myanmar] can be a beacon of hope for a lot of people, and you are going to be part of that hope.”

The former president and former first lady Laura Bush were on hand at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on Monday night to celebrate the graduation of the third class of the Liberty and Leadership forum. The Bushes said the graduates have them hopeful for the future.

“I believe, and we believe, it is in our national interest to advance freedom and democracy for the sake of peace, and I understand how hard it is. I remind people all the time in our own country that democracy is a journey,” the former president said. “One thing, though, that is certain, is that democracy requires leadership, people willing to take risks for the sake of the future of their countries.”

Bush Center President and CEO Ken Hersh said the expansion of freedom and democracy around the globe is one of today’s most pressing issues.

“The United States should be engaged internationally and we should have our principles of freedom and democracy shared wherever it finds a home,” he said.

In a panel with two of this year’s graduates, Laura Bush spoke about her time visiting refugees at the Thailand-Myanmar border in 2008. Some of those refugees, as well as local refugee families from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, were in attendance Monday night.

She said it was important that the U.S. remain engaged with Myanmar, where although there has been progress, there is much work to do. In 2015, Myanmar held a historic election in which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won 80 percent of elected seats. Shortly after, there was a peaceful transfer of power.

Former first lady Laura Bush speaks on a panel with graduates Aung Kyaw Moe (center) and Ei Ei Phyu at the graduation of the 2017 class of the Bush Institute's Liberty and Leadership Forum on Monday, June 26, 2017 at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

“It is very, very encouraging and I feel very optimistic about [Myanmar] now as a I watch also,” she said. “You are hope, you are the ones that can build what you need to really have a free [Myanmar].”

On a panel with Laura Bush was Liberty and Leadership graduate Ei Ei Phyu, who said education was key and something that allowed her to be successful.

“Everyone in this room shared a common vision that education is a powerful weapon to make a positive change,” she said, noting that she hopes the U.S. remains engaged in investing in education programs across the world. “I do believe education can change a person’s opinions and life.”

Laura Bush, a former teacher and librarian, agreed.

“One of the most important things that anyone can do, that any government can do for their people is make sure they have access to education,” she said. “I think if people are more educated, they are more likely to be able to accept people who are different from them, and that’s an important part of education.”